New Year, New Volunteer: Radio Horton Appeals for Ward Visitors

Banbury’s hospital broadcasting service, Radio Horton is appealing for new volunteers to come forward to assist with visiting and spending time with patients at the Horton General Hospital, collecting music requests for its weekday evening request programmes.

The appeal comes following incumbent volunteer ward visitor sickness or holiday and the station is now unable to fulfil its ward visiting rounds on a regular basis.

Radio Horton Chairman, Anthony Brown said: “We have always maintained a good working relationship with the Horton General Hospital. Sadly in recent times we have lost valuable volunteers on our ward visiting rounds because of sickness or long term leave.”

“We really would encourage anybody looking for a new, exciting volunteering opportunity in 2019 to take part in Ward Visiting, which involves meeting patients on the wards and gathering their favourite music.”, Brown continues.

Hospital radio is a unique medium in that it has a “close-knit” audience, which allows many of its volunteers and presenters to put names to faces, offering the opportunity for the presenter to meet their listeners.

“For some patients, they may not see a non-clinical person for the duration they spend in hospital. There really is nothing more gratifying than meeting patients, hearing their stories, bringing comfort & solace to them at a time when they need it most and playing their favourite music.”, adds Anthony.

Volunteering at Radio Horton is fully flexible to work around your schedule. Prospective volunteers are expected to spend around one hour per week visiting the wards but can commit to more if they wish.

Full training is provided and all candidates are subject to safeguarding approval and successful completion of a Data & Barring Service (DBS) check.

If you would be interested in applying or getting involved, you can find out more on our website.